<p>Hello everyone!
I want to apply to upenn ED but i dont know if i really have a chance!
I will pass my SAT on October and i will probably get a score between 1800-2000, 2000 being the maaximum i can have! I will pass SAT II in math 2, physics and french. I can assure a 800 in french, over 700 in maths, but i didnt start preparing for physics yet :/
My academics are really amazing, i converted my scores into GPA and had a 4.00, i am the first of my grade while attending a really competitive and selective school & specializing in maths(i got the excellence prize of my hs twice)
For the TOEFL, i think i will have a good score since i am fluent in english, i hosted some american students so i am used to talking/listening.
For the activities, i am part of an association, i done some community services(beach clean up, volunteering at hospitals), and i am part of a community that combines all the people from the middle east to promote dignity/human rights, im the president of my class, i participate in national olympiads(no ranking since its still going), semi finalist in national dictation, i wrote a little autobiography, i had a summer job in a managment post in a society).
The worst thing is that i'll apply for financial aid and upeen is need-aware for international students :(</p>
<p>Please can you tell me if a have a chance?? I have no one to talk with/ask about this in my country, all answers all welcoomed!!</p>
<p>(I forgot to mention it but i am a girl, and i’ve been told that it’s easier for boys)</p>
<p>You have good EC’s but with a SAT score in the range of 1800-2000 and 2000 being the maximum you think you can achieve, I do not think you have a good chance of getting in at UPenn. You should start looking at other colleges. Also FA hurts you too.</p>
<p>On another note, there is no such thing as passing the SAT.</p>
<p>Thank you! What would be in your opinion the minimum score i have to get ?</p>
<p>Also ,do you please have any suggestions of other colleges ?</p>
<p>2250 or ~750 per section is comfortable for Ivy Leagues. </p>
<p>Oh! That’s a lot, i need to work really really hard but i don’t think i can increase my score in 2 months :(</p>
<p>Hello Rolay, remember in English “passer un test” = to take a test vs. to pass a test = “réussir un test” - which is different from getting a high score on a test (a necessary but not sufficient condition to have a high score is to pass the test 
) - which is why humblefool told you “there’s no such thing as passing the SAT”. The test ranks you according to how many mistakes you made AND how well other candidates did.
Do not underestimate the TOEFL. Even if your level of English is excellent, it also tests a specific format (with expected answers) which you need to be very aware about. Since your English is strong, all you need is a book with practice tests, but do practice consistently.</p>
<p>If your native or heritage language is French, you can’t take it for a subject test - it would actually look bad to top schools if you tried to present a score on a test designed to test at CEF A2 level, ie., 2-3 years of study, for a language you speak at home - *<em>it is, however, authorized if the only place you speak French is school. On the other hand, if you study a language other than English (Spanish or Latin perhaps?) you can take that test. Be careful as not all languages are offered on all test dates and the November tests have a different format.
If you’re in the French-patterned system, unfortunately whereas S is well-respected in France, it isn’t toooo much in the US due to the 2008 reform that drastically changed some of its curriculum in math&science. If you apply for a science major, for instance, you’d be considered *behind</em> at top 25 universities and LACs. It’s not your fault because you have to follow your national curriculum and there aren’t many enrichment activities but since schools at that level will only admit one or two applicants from your country, your odds are better if you’re trying to get into social sciences or humanities - and for those fields, L or ES are a better preparation than S. You could offset that with an international award in the sciences or research experience, but based on your list of EC’s, you don’t have that. Needing financial aid is another issue since the more money you need, the harder the competition becomes.
Right now, your odds at Penn, even with ED, are quite low. You’d need an international-level award (in anything) to offset a score below 2100 and you don’t have that. I’m afraid you’d be wasting your “ED card” applying there, even if you’re the strongest applicant in your area (as it sounds).</p>
<p>Being from the Middle East will, however, be a slight hook, especially as a girl - and if I were you, I’d apply to one of the Seven Sisters or Scripps (= the elite women’s colleges.)</p>
<p>Why do you want to attend UPenn? What makes that school so appealing that you’d want to apply ED?</p>
<p>You can increase your score by a lot in two months. Buy the college board blue book and take a practice exam every weekend from now, until the exam. You will see an increase </p>
<p>@MYOS1634 Thank you for claryfing that point! </p>
<p>I just bought “The complete guide for the TOEFL test” and two CDs of preparation, so i will practice before taking my test on September.</p>
<p>My native language is arabic, not french but i’ve been studying french since i was 7, is that fine in my case ?</p>
<p>I’m morrocan and our curriculum is quite different than the french one. We are obliged to chose either sciences or litterature. And in case you choose sciences, you decide whether you take normal (=not really difficult) courses or you “specialise” in mathematics which means that you study a lot more, specially maths & physics. In my country, the mathematics specialisation is a very big advantage since everyone knows that you are (supposed to be) stronger academically than others. But i have no idea of how the commitee will see this! Do you have any idea on the subject ? About ED, since i realised that my chances are really low, should i apply EA to another school ?</p>
<p>Do any of these seven have some good engineering programs ?</p>
<p>What i like the most about upenn is the jerome fisher program for the Management & Technology!</p>
<p>@AnnieBeats Thank’s for your advice! I just bought both the blue book and the 11 Practice test of the Princeton review, and i will try to work everyday to increase my score!</p>
<p>Smith (they have engineering) and Scripps (for the partnership with HarveyMudd), Barnard for partnership with Columbia, Bryn Mawr for partnership with Haverford/Penn/Swarthmore or the 4+1 with Penn Engineering (Physics at Bryn Mawr, Master’s in Engineering in one year at Penn).</p>
<p>Honestly, I’m afraid you’d “waste” your ED card applying to Penn if you’re in the 1800-2000 score zone. And you have zero chance getting into the Jerome Fisher program, it’s so selective you’d need to be in the 2200 zone :s</p>
<p>Yes you can take French if you’re not a native speaker, and yes indeed you should get an 800! :)</p>
<p>@MYOS1634 I think i need to reconsider applying to upenn. And thanks a loot!</p>
<p>Even though Penn is need-aware, a highly compelling applicant would be admitted regardless of financial need.</p>
<p>You can apply if you want. Penn is a reach for everyone but you could potentially get lucky (i.e as long as you have good grades and decent test scores; terrible test scores and/or bad grades = basically no chance).</p>
<p>@International95 everything is too confusing, i don’t know what to think/do anymore :(</p>
<p>I guess it’d depend what your story is (hardships) but even for a Middle Eastern girl that story would have to be really compelling to make up for an SAT score in the 1800-2000 range tops (which often means 1600-1800 as international applicants frequently misjudge the test’s difficulty, ie., speed and accuracy.)</p>
<p>@MYOS1634 I am sorry but i didn’t really understand what you meant!</p>